The Little Bighorn National Battlefield.

This past Sunday (9-28) was the 2nd day of a 2 day shoot. It felt like one of those cold and ready to snow at any moment days. Very windy with almost a sleet mist feel.

It was not one of his better shoots, but somehow he managed to come in 2nd overall. We were both shocked but I guess the rest of the competitors had an off day too.

We hitched up our rolling home and headed to Crow Agency, Montana where the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument is. Due to arriving after 2 pm, we decided to hunker down some where for the night and spend the entire day tomorrow at the battlefield.

Just down from the battlefield was a fuel station and Indian Trading Post called the "Medicine Turtle". We got permission to stay the night in their parking lot. I ended up buying a nice pillow for our couch with a Native American horse design that will fit right in with our RV's decor. 

Monday morning we left the Medicine Turtle Trading Post and drove our rolling ranch house just a mile to the The Big Horn Battlefield and parked our home.

We entered the wonderful visitor center where we watched a very informative 30 minute video of the battle and then toured the museum. Afterwards the park ranger gave a great 30 minute talk about the battle. I was amazed on how someone could remember all of that history. She was great. 

The monument memorializes the U.S. Army's 7th Calvary and the Sioux and Cheyenne in one of the Indians last armed efforts to preserve their way of life. Here on June 25 and 26 of 1876, 263 soldiers, including Lt. Col. George A. Custer died fighting several thousand Lakota and Cheyenne warriors.

I have always sided with the Native Americans. I just can't imagine another race coming in and killing all your food sources, making you live on a reservation, not allowing you to speak your native tongue, making you dress in the white mans clothes, plus all the broken treaty's and lies.

Last Stand Hill is where Custer and approximately 41 men shot their horses to use as barricades for protection. The headstone markers were placed in 1890 by the Army to show where Custer and his men had fallen. Custer's headstone has a black shield.

39 horses were shot and killed in the battle. A grave was dug after the battle and in 1946 while doing some excavation, the horse cemetery was found. Horses have made a lot of sacrifice's in numerous wars and battles since the beginning of time. A granite marker has been erected to pay homage to the Seventh Calvary horses interred on Custer Hill. Custer was in numerous battles during his military career. He escaped harm in battle having 11 horses shot from under him.

Finally in 2003 the Native Americans had their memorial. It just took 127 years! In 1999 the NPS (National Park Service) began erecting red granite markers at known Cheyenne and Lakota warrior casualty sites throughout the battlefield. Red granite was chosen by the tribes to contrast with the approximately 265 white marble military markers. 

A "Spirit Warrior" sculpture is displayed within the Indian Memorial. The Indian Memorial has circular walls with carvings. One wall displayed the names of the warrior's who fell and of those who fought there.

If anyone is interested in reading about one of the few survivors of the battle, do a Google search on Capt. Myles Keogh horse "Comanche, Little Big Horn". It is quite a story. He was left for dead and struggled to live for 2 days before the Army arrived after the massacre. He had been shot up with bullets and arrows. The Indian's took the few live serviceable animals and left Comanche because of all his wounds. 

I am still learning how to place pictures. I had a little bit of trouble and gave up putting the pictures where they needed to be. Also hopefully I have the text size right this time.